MAHWAH, N.J. (1/31/22) – Patrick Strzala totaled 18 points and five assists as a big second half run propelled the Kean University men's basketball team to a season sweep of Ramapo College with a 76-71 victory on Monday evening.

Letrell West finished with 16 points for the Cougars who improve to 11-7 overall and 6-7 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Jordan Myers tallied 15 points and nine rebounds for the Roadrunners who fall to 4-13 overall and 3-10 in the NJAC.

Strzala notched 11 points during a first half that saw the Cougars trail from the opening tip. Ramapo opened with a 13-6 run, before the Cougars shaved the lead down to 23-22 with 5:15 remaining behind seven points from Strzala. The Roadrunners closed the half on a 14-7 run to hold a 37-28 advantage.

Kean opened the second stanza with an 11-6 run, which cut the halftime deficit to 42-39. Ramapo responded with a 7-2 run to push their lead back to 49-39 with 13:22 to play. The Cougars answered again with an 18-9 run that gave Kean their first lead of the contest at 57-56. Strzala and Ethan Stith scored 12 of the 18 points during the run. After trading buckets for the lead, Kean used a 7-0 run to hold a 67-60 lead with 4:15 to play.

An 11-5 run put the Roadrunners back in front at 71-70 with 90 seconds remaining. The Cougars ended the game on a 6-0 run that included a driving layup from Jailen Jamison and two free throws apiece from Strzala and West.

JD Daniels tallied 14 points, while Jamison totaled 10 points, six assists and two steals. Nate Lyles added seven points and four rebounds, while Stith collected six points.

Head Coach David Turco and the Cougars will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 2^nd, hosting the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University at 8:00 p.m.